President Donald Trump urged other nations to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open for commercial shipping as the war with Iran moved into its third week.
Speaking ahead of a Kennedy Center board meeting at the White House, Trump said the passage was in “very good shape,” but argued that countries reliant on oil moving through the Strait of Hormuz should share the burden of keeping it open.
Trump said other governments had told him they were “on the way” to assist, though he did not name the countries. He added that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other officials would announce which nations would help support efforts tied to the Strait of Hormuz.
What Trump said about the Strait of Hormuz and the war
Trump paired his appeal on the Strait of Hormuz with sweeping claims about the impact of U.S. military operations against Iran. He said the United States had struck more than 7,000 targets across Iran and asserted that ballistic missile launches and drone attacks had dropped sharply since the campaign began.
He also claimed Iran’s military capabilities had been heavily degraded, including air and naval forces, air defenses and radar. Trump said more than 100 Iranian naval vessels had been “sunk or destroyed,” including 30 mine-laying ships, and he described Iran’s leadership as having been eliminated.
Trump’s comments were framed as an update on the conflict and a push for shared responsibility in securing the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow route central to regional energy exports. A summary of his remarks was published in a report on the White House appearance linked to the Kennedy Center meeting.
Pressure on shipping and oil as the strait remains a flashpoint
Trump’s call for outside help reflected the strategic role of the Strait of Hormuz in moving oil and other cargo. The waterway sits between Iran and Oman and serves as the main exit for crude and fuel shipments from much of the Persian Gulf. Even when shipping is not fully halted, heightened risk can slow traffic, raise insurance costs and push energy prices higher.
In his remarks, Trump said the strait was stable, while also signaling concern about the risks of disruption and the need for support. He argued that nations that depend on oil transiting the Strait of Hormuz should contribute naval assets or other assistance to keep maritime access open.
Oil-market impacts were already part of the broader backdrop. The White House appearance took place as oil prices climbed above $100 a barrel, according to the reference information provided. That kind of move can feed into gasoline and diesel costs and tighten pressure on governments to restore predictable shipping conditions.
For context on why disruptions matter, the U.S. Energy Information Administration has described the Strait of Hormuz as one of the world’s most important oil chokepoints, with limited alternatives if transit is blocked or constrained.
A key practical issue is mine and drone threats. Trump highlighted mine-laying vessels in his remarks, and mine risks can force ships to reroute, wait offshore or avoid transits altogether. Photos of tankers staged outside the Gulf, naval mine-countermeasure activity and satellite imagery of port operations are among the visuals commonly used to document shipping slowdowns linked to the Strait of Hormuz.
Some governments may hesitate to join a U.S.-led maritime effort for several reasons, including legal mandates, force availability and concern that a larger coalition could widen the conflict. Those constraints do not eliminate the economic stakes, but they can slow decisions even when energy-importing states would benefit from more reliable passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
